The Saybrook Alumni Association is proud and excited to announce that two essay level or candidate level students will receive $8,000 scholarships to assist them in completing their Doctoral Degrees. This year’s recipients are Ame Cutler and Paul Rooney. The Alumni Council Scholarship Committee chose Ame and Paul from among a number of qualified students, all of whom were solidly on track to complete their essays and dissertations and were highly recommended by their essay chairs. The final decision was truly difficult—all applicants deserved this award—we mean that sincerely. The Scholarship Committee’s heartfelt good wishes go out to all of the candidates.George Aiken, PhD ’06; Joan Hageman, PhD ’05; Dassie Hoffman, PhD ’02; Carol Maxym, PhD ’97; Tom Milus, PhD ’01

Ame Cutler, a PhD student in the Humanistic and Transpersonal Psychology Concentration, came to Saybrook with a master’s degree from JFK in 2002. Ame continues to work 45 hour weeks as a body-worker and transformative learning facilitator. Her primary area of scholarly interest has been the integration of Ancestral connectedness in the psychotherapeutic process, looking at self-concept formation and trans-generational trauma. Despite multiple “life challenges” while at Saybrook, Ame says her professional bicycle-racing background has given her a “never quit” attitude.

Ame’s first essay was entitled, Ancestral Connectedness and the Formation of Self-Concept. She is currently working on an essay looking into the Mexican American Self-Concept in relation to Ancestral Connectedness. Her dissertation will be a Descriptive Phenomenological Psychological Inquiry into the European American self-concept formation in relation to Ancestral Connectedness. According to her essay chair, Jurgen Kremer, “She is truly onto cutting edge work.” Congratulations, Ame
George Aiken, PhD ’06

Paul Rooney, a PhD student in the Humanistic and Transpersonal Psychology Concentration, has matriculated at Saybrook since 2005. Paul lives with his family in Fall River, Massachusetts, where he has continued his work as a clinician in the juvenile court system. He also works part-time as a therapist, Guardian ad Litem, and court investigator. Guardians ad litem are appointed to represent the interests of minors in a number of different situations such as divorce or abuse, where litigation is involved.

Paul has completed his essays, which addressed confirmation bias, gender bias, and implications of the National Sex Offender Registry for juvenile and adult sex offenders. He has advanced to candidacy and will propose a dissertation that looks at professionals’ perceptions of juvenile sex offenders. He hopes to graduate in 2009. Congratulations, Paul.
Tom Milus, PhD ’01